Halfway through reading "Interred with Their Bones", I checked to see if it had been written before or after "The Da Vinci Code". On finding that it Halfway through reading "Interred with Their Bones", I checked to see if it had been written before or after "The Da Vinci Code". On finding that it had been written after, my initial 4 star rating got bumped down to 3.5 stars, and stayed at that level for the duration of the book.

That having been said, it's a very good page-turning, puzzle-weaving, thought provoking book, set around the mystery of a) whether William Shakespeare was actually the author responsible for Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, etc. and b) if a "lost play" by Shakespeare actually exists.

The protagonist, Kate Stanley, takes us along with her from England to America in a wild roller-coaster ride on the search for answers, and the book is incredibly well-researched. Much like "The Da Vinci Code" elaborated about the Knights Templar and the Priory de Sion, "Interred with Their Bones" expounds on Shakespearean England and the twists and turns of British nobility.

My sister had recommended Joe Hill to me, specifically "Heart Shaped Box", but the only book in stock at the library was his short story collection, "My sister had recommended Joe Hill to me, specifically "Heart Shaped Box", but the only book in stock at the library was his short story collection, "20th Century Ghosts".

I don't usually read the subgenre of delicate, subtle horror stories. That having been said, Hill did a good job of presenting these stories. "Pop Art", "20th Century Ghost", and "My Father's Mask" were to me, the best of the stories.

When Hill tries for straight-up horror (in the stories "Best New Horror" and "You Will Hear the Locust Sing"), I kept being pulled out of the stories, thinking that they'd been done better by authors such as Dan Simmons or Stephen King: The Early Years.

I'm curious to see if I'll be gushing over Hill after reading "Heart Shaped Box"....more

Cell was a good, solid King read. It's an apocalyptic setting focusing on a few survivors, and fans of his won't be disappointed.I thought the protagoCell was a good, solid King read. It's an apocalyptic setting focusing on a few survivors, and fans of his won't be disappointed.I thought the protagonist, Clay Riddell, was set up well, as well as his fellow band of survivors.There weren't too many surprises, although oddly, the ending reminded me of Joe Hill's collection of short stories 20th Century Ghosts. ...more

Laila Lalami is one of the authors speaking at the 2009 L.A. Times Festival of Books - that was the motivation for my picking up her book.

She gets immLaila Lalami is one of the authors speaking at the 2009 L.A. Times Festival of Books - that was the motivation for my picking up her book.

She gets immediate points for an evocative title. "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits" is an elegant way of describing the concept of the book - an insight into four Moroccans attempting to illegally cross the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain, as well as the past which brought them to this decision.

The book was well-executed, clean and spare - ultimately, that's what made me give it 3 stars instead of 4. I liked it, but didn't love it. I never became emotionally invested in the characters or their plights, but did appreciate learning about illegal immigration in places other than the California/Mexico border....more

**spoiler alert** Periodically, I'll read books solely because the title grabs me. Case in point: "The Witches' Hammer". As it turns out, the book is**spoiler alert** Periodically, I'll read books solely because the title grabs me. Case in point: "The Witches' Hammer". As it turns out, the book is a mystery in the Knights Templar/church mythology genre, which was a pleasant surprise.

I wish I could say the same after having read the book.

The premise of the book - 35 year old divorcee discovers her father's murder is tied to a grimoire that he recently acquired, and goes on a quest to avenge his death, discovering church intrigue and pagan knowledge along the way.

While the historical mystery sections flowed smoothly, and Hitchcock obviously did an immense amount of research on the subject (on a complete side note: "Malleus Maleficarum", or "The Witches' Hammer was the title of a Season 3 "Supernatural" episode) - it als, there's a subplot regarding the protagonist, Beatrice O'Connell, and her sexual awakening that's just...bad.

Every time I read a sex scene, I mentally detached from the book, scratching my head at the appalling metaphors.

Embarrassed by the memory of her own passion, Beatrice started to put on her sweater. Diaz tried to help her, but she pulled away...."Are you okay?" he said."I don't know," she answered in a barely audible voice."You haven't done anything wrong."She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Why do I feel as if I have?""Because you've just met your wolf," Diaz said, putting his arms around her. "And you don't know her well yet. She frightens you.""That wasn't me.""It's part of you."Beatrice's mouth was quivering. She didn't want him to see her cry. "Can I blame my wolf?" she asked."If you like. But she's nothing to be ashamed of.""I am ashamed." She started to weep. "I'm so ashamed.""Don't be," Diaz said, kissing her tears away."You don't understand. It's not just about me.""Who is it about?""My father. I've been a fool, Luis - such a fool.""No. You've only been asleep. And now Sleeping Beauty has awakened. And she's a wolf. There's no going back."

Yeah, even after typing it out, it still sounds clunky, which is a shame, considering the premise of the book is pretty cool. ...more

Okay, I admit it. I gave this book 5-stars for purely subjective reasons. If I hadn't been on my high school chess team, didn't care about chess, or dOkay, I admit it. I gave this book 5-stars for purely subjective reasons. If I hadn't been on my high school chess team, didn't care about chess, or didn't find books about high school education interesting, I probably would have rated it 3-stars.

Man, I loved this book. While my high school chess team was nothing like Murrow's, the dynamics were the same: a few students wildly devoted/obsessed with chess, some interested only in pick-up games, and others that showed up only once or twice a year.

Weinreb is clearly someone who's never been bitten by the chess bug, but he does a great job of shining a light on those who have been - or reminding those who had been why chess is such a gorgeous addiction.

Like the title says, Weinreb shadowed the Murrow chess team for more than a year - the students clearly became comfortable with him, and he was able to glean some killer insights and stories.

One of my favorite sections was Chapter 14, which could have been subtitled "When Two Worlds Collide" - the Murrow team from inner-city New York at Nashville, Tennessee for the Supernationals. I've tried three times now to type out sections, but you know what? It needs to be read in context, so really, find a copy of this book and read it for yourselves!!!...more

**spoiler alert** I've decided to create a new shelf called "Unfinished reading", and "The Wrong Hostage" is the first book to go on it.

I'm a fan of L**spoiler alert** I've decided to create a new shelf called "Unfinished reading", and "The Wrong Hostage" is the first book to go on it.

I'm a fan of Lowell's books, and I'm usually game to follow when she breaks out a new style of writing, but not this time.

"The Wrong Hostage" re-introduces the St. Kilda Consulting Agency, this time to aid Grace Silva, a federal judge whose son Lane has been taken hostage in Mexico, and will be killed unless her ex-husband Ted Franklin repays the millions he stole from various cranky drug cartels. In a clunky plot twist, her son is actually the biological child of Joe Faroe, who just *happens* to be a member of St. Kilda, an elite task force who takes the jobs too dirty or sensitive for the law to touch, and therefore the only man alive capable of saving her son.

Did I mention that Joe is unaware that Lane is his child and Grace is terrified that he may abandon her and her son if he finds out?

Believe it or not, this book is moving along at such an anemic pace that I've decided to put it down until I have more patience for it. ...more

The title of the book pretty much sums up the plot. A Caravaggio painting was lost - this book is the story of how it was found.

Harr did a good job ofThe title of the book pretty much sums up the plot. A Caravaggio painting was lost - this book is the story of how it was found.

Harr did a good job of crafting the mystery and explaining art restoration techniques for art novices to understand.

One small nitpick: Not being an art history major, and completely unfamiliar with Caravaggio's works, I was intrigued by the story but disappointed that there were no illustrations to enable me to appreciate it better.While I was able to find his work online (here's one link:http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databas... ), it would have been nice to have it included in the book.

For a complete architectural neophyte, this book was a very clear, interesting primer into 15th century Italian architecture, and Filippo BrunelleschiFor a complete architectural neophyte, this book was a very clear, interesting primer into 15th century Italian architecture, and Filippo Brunelleschi's contributions to the field.

Random thoughts: It had never occurred to me the logistical nightmares in trying to build the largest octagonal dome in the world - in 15th century Florence - with no modern equipment. When you realize that the *easiest* problem is trying to figure out ways to lift 5,000 pound blocks 180 feet in the air...it boggles the mind....more

The tagline on the front cover of the book is: "Three secrets. Two women. One Grail." And it's an apt synopsis of the book.

"Labryinth" has two plotlines, one set in 1209, the other in 2005, and throughout the course of the book, slowly merge into one. If you've read any Grail bestsellers over the past few years, you'll have guessed the plot line (Note: "The Da Vinci Code" was published in 2004, while "Labryinth" was published in 2005 - although Mosse began researching her book before "The Da Vinci Code", her book was short shrifted by appearing after Brown's wildly successful novel.).

I'd recommend this book as a library read or paperback buy, but not hardback....more

This was a very quick, enjoyable read. Nancy Werlin does a great job of interpreting the story behind the song "Scarborough Fair".

The 17 year old pregThis was a very quick, enjoyable read. Nancy Werlin does a great job of interpreting the story behind the song "Scarborough Fair".

The 17 year old pregnant protagonist, Lucy Scarborough, has just discovered she's in a race against time, and must perform 3 impossible tasks before her child is born...or go insane like every woman in her family has done before her.

Throw in some Faerie lore and some strong supporting characters, and that's why I gave it 4 stars.

I'm a parent of a first-grader, not a teacher. So why did I read this book? Because I'm just beginning to weave my way through the educational systemI'm a parent of a first-grader, not a teacher. So why did I read this book? Because I'm just beginning to weave my way through the educational system as a parent, and I wanted a better idea of the teacher's perspective from a second-hand source as well as my child's teachers.

This book provides a fact-driven, comprehensive, persuasive argument as to why this paradigm must change, and school districts that are working to create a paradigm shift.

And every person who reviewed this book and recommended it to be read by parents was right. This is NOT a book to be read only by teachers.

I'll be honest - I never really thought that much about teachers as a profession before. While I knew that good teachers never get the respect nor an equitable salary for all of their hard work, it never occurred to me that poor teachers are often kept in the system longer than they should be, and that students have a right to consistently excellent teachers.

This book made me aware of the possibility that every single teacher that my child has could be excellent - but that most of them will leave, disheartened by all of some of the following factors: lack of pay, the stress of working a 60 hour week, or a school district that does not support or create incentives for teachers to excel.

Um, so this book scared me - but it was also a wake-up call.

If I could afford it, I'd buy copies and give them to all of my local school board members, legislators and friends who are parents. As it is, I'm certainly going to do my best to tell them about it. ...more

As the mother of a first-grade public school student, I found this book to be an excellent supplemental aid. It "delivers age-appropriate content in lAs the mother of a first-grade public school student, I found this book to be an excellent supplemental aid. It "delivers age-appropriate content in language arts, math, science, and social studies in an open-ended, flexible manner that incorporates the "real" world."

The book provides frequent sidebars on * For Further Reading: Additional books for you to readh with your child each subject,* Enrich the Experience and A Bright Idea : Suggestions on how to proceed further with each teaching lesson.

Since I checked this book out from the library, I photocopied the worksheet pages and incorporated the best teaching ideas into working with my son on his homework lessons.

Since this book has so many different subjects, I found that it was also a good way to find out what subjects interested (or more importantly, did not) my son. For example, I now know that our next field trip will be to the aerospace museum and not the zoo! ...more

"The Naked Consumer" was written in 1992; Nielsen ratings, consumer focus groups, ceWhat does it mean that this book seems anachronistically cute now?

"The Naked Consumer" was written in 1992; Nielsen ratings, consumer focus groups, census data and market research companies were the main methods of how Corporate America invaded our privacy. Since its' publication, website cookies alone have added more personal information about ourselves than could possibly be acquired through the previous methods mentioned.

Most retail stores have club cards, social networking websites like Facebook have personalized ads, free sites like imeem.com and goodreads.com offer personalized choices based on prior viewing history...and the list goes on and on.

Having already read Naomi Klein's No Logo No Space, No Choice, No Jobs and other social marketing books, I was already familiar with most of the information in Larson's book, but it was engaging to read his take on how (as of 1992) Corporate America has invaded individuals' privacy.

It's a little disconcerting to realize how much more invasive Corporate America has become as of 2009. Personally, I'd love to read a revised edition of "The Naked Consumer", with Larson's take on how much has changed since his interviews with Jonathan Robbin, Paco Underhall, and others. ...more

In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men--Hawley Cripen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive c

In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men--Hawley Cripen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creater of a seemingly supernatural means of communication--whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time.

I say this because Larson uses the same style in both books: weaving thousands of sources and factoids, and two dramatically different stories - one of invention and one of murder - into a satisfying conclusion without any loose threads left behind.

Unlike the World's Fair and Holmes, however, trying to connect the invention of the wireless to Crippen seems to be a struggle rather than a "aha, of course they're related" discovery.

I liked all of the details in "Thunderstruck", and Larson makes it easy for the reader to understand the science used by Marconi as well as create a vivid picture of Crippen's London, but there just isn't the sense of awe that "The Devil in the White City" inspired.

The book was very enjoyable, is definitely a recommended read, but it suffers if "The Devil in the White City" was read first. ...more

"Elegant, witty, and flawlessly detailed, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a magisterial first novel that draws readers into Susanna Clarke's fant

"Elegant, witty, and flawlessly detailed, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a magisterial first novel that draws readers into Susanna Clarke's fantastic and utterly convincing vision of a past world.

This quote is from the book jacket, and is in fact an excellent summation of the book. This is NOT a book to read if you're looking for a one hour fluff read. Ms. Clarke has painstakingly created a parallel universe to 19th century England (think Dickens on acid), and if you don't have the time to devote to savoring the book, I wouldn't recommend starting. But if you do, or if lush, fantasy driven epic novels appeal to you, then I highly recommend this one.

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, and frankly, it's way too complex to even begin to describe in a book review, I grin. Sufficed to say that the book is essentially about two magicians, their different approaches to magic, and how they impact the world around them. Dickens on acid. And her footnotes are *hysterical*.